Humans around the globe celebrate the gift of light with gifts to the people in their lives. The celebrations at this time of year – when the shortest day of the year happens and the world turns to light once more – often include gifts of food.
As it happens, the Savorists that write regularly for this site come with their own traditions, and we shall try to share them in the weeks ahead – but before we get to that, lets look at some holiday gifts you can make right now – this week – and share with your family and friends.
I started with 12 – for the 12 Days of Christmas you know, but then I realized that there are far more than that that we have already written about. Let’s do just 12 this year, and then we can do 12 different ones next year. Some of these are plan ahead kind of gifts (like harvesting and making edible olives – on our YouTube) – so we will try to remind you as the year goes by.
Sharing food as a holiday tradition in our region includes getting together with family and friends, making massive batches of tamales, then sharing the bounty with other friends and family. Travel the globe and it might not be tamales, but there is some traditional holiday food of that culture that is made to be shared to help brighten the time when the days start getting longer and brighter again.
Make These Gifts Now
It’s not too soon to begin making some homemade food gifts, especially the ones that need a little alone time for their full flavors to mature. Indeed, gifts from the kitchen always feel a little more special, and it will feel good to start checking off your holiday to-do list before the busy season takes over your life.
Save Money
The whole idea is to not go overboard and spend tons of money. These should be inexpensive to compile. Inexpensive of money – but giving the gift of your time, and attention to detail.
Make The Gifts Special
It’s not just about the gift – it’s also about the presentation. Honestly, a plate of cookies covered with plastic wrap and on a pretty plate, casserole dish, or even pie plate from the second hand store means more to me than twice as many cookies in a plastic tub from the dollar store. If someone appears ungrateful about such a gift – they don’t deserve your attention next year. Move on from them and let the universe send you someone better. (Besides, give me a pie plate and you might just get it back filled with a pie!)
1. Infused Vinegar
Infuse vinegar with herbs to transform a simple kitchen staple into something unique. You basically just add fresh herbs and allowing their flavors to infuse into the vinegar.
This post originally spoke of infusing vinegar with palo verde flowers. Since they are not in bloom at the moment – consider the herbs from your yard. Infuse vinegar with herbs we have mentioned, like Mexican oregano, rosemary, or garlic chives.
Live in an apartment? Cilantro from the grocery store might be nice. Add some colorful red hot peppers and call it something creative, like “Sonoran Delight.” Um – “Call it?” YES more about labeling your gifts below.
2. Dates & Honey
From Monica our beekeeper, we have Dulcis Coccora.
Her recipe calls for a pound of dates, but you don’t give the entire pound to one person. Make the batch and be sure to air dry them well. These can go on that gift plate along with some cookies.
3. 4. 5. Cookies – Ours are Gluten Free
We have more cookies than you can shake a stick at. And really, what is more traditional than making cookies at Christmas?! These three are all easy to make, and then divide among the plates you are gifting.
Apples & Honey Cookies – gluten free and a bright fresh flavor.
Acorn Tahini Cookies – gluten free, even vegan
Desert Lavender Cookies – GF as well. You can shape these with a cookie cutter! Tasty and pretty too!
6. 7. 8. Things to Drink
Canning jar, some cloth cut in a circle. A ribbon, and a hand written label about how to use the gift. Since canning jars are getting expensive I save pretty jars through the year, say a jar from salsa. To eliminate the words, I spray paint the lids with gold or the like, and use those.
Make a pretty jar of our cinnamony and tasty Southwest Hot Cocoa Mix
Mesquite Atole Mix – blend some and put it in a pretty jar.
Cordials. I have made lots of lovely Lemon Cordial specifically. I made this ahead every March when the Meyer lemon tree showers me with fruit.
One friend confessed that she doesn’t drink it – she adds it to her (locally) famous lemon-barrel seed muffins. The alcohol is baked off so it’s fine for the kiddos to enjoy.
Rose Brandy – that’s one you need to make ahead. Plan for next year!
9. Jams & Jellies
These are mostly plan ahead kind of gifts.
Prickly Pear Fruit jelly springs to mind. If you made some bottles of prickly pear juice, you could boil that into jelly.
Or Agarita Fruit makes an awesome jam or jelly.
But in case you didn’t harvest any of these fruits – a bag of frozen blueberries or cherries from Costco or Sam’s Club make a nice jam too.
Of course for those that like hot things – Jalepeno Jelly is a local favorite, and there are ample jalepenos available in the supermarkets. And ample recipes on the interweb. We shall have to get one up here.
10. 11. Nuts
Southwest Spicy Peanuts are wonderful! And peanuts are less expensive than this next gift which uses pecans.
Spiced Pecans. My only problem with these is that they are so good, I could eat them all before they leave my kitchen. As a side note, I finally remembered the name of the wonderful woman who shared the recipe with me. Lucy Weber, of blessed memory. Notice that there are some suggestions for how to gift these yummy nuts in that post.
12. Dried Herbs
You still have time to dry some herbs for the cooks on your gift list. Mexican oregano dries very well, as does Greek oregano.
Our print post on Drying Herbs.
Our YouTube on Drying Herbs.
Labeling Your Gifts
You don’t want your gift to be forgotten! Make sure your name is on there somewhere. From the Kitchen of …. We humorously call ourselves “Rancho Costalotta,” because our home on the hill has cost a lot! Not just money but also blood, and sweat, and more than a few tears. And a torn tendon – but that is another tale. The idea is to have fun at the holidays, not treat everyone to an “organ recital.”
But labeling is more than just your name. When you gift food, or even something topical like home-made lotion, it is always best to include a list of ingredients. Just in case someone does have an allergy.
Keep a record at home too. I’m a “toss it all in and taste it” kind of cook, and then when something is out of the world delicious I have no idea how to make it again. Pencil and paper – or even just a series of photos on your phone – are invaluable at recreating the flavors. I have an old fashioned looseleaf notebook where I try to keep track.
Pretty Labels
Save your holiday cards. If they are not too extensively written on, just cut the front of the card off and now you have a lovely piece of rigid paper to write your food gift details on.
Bits of holiday ribbon to tie it on the jar can be saved too. Or tape. You can tape a label on a plate or jar and no one should look down on you for not having a staff of 47 people like Martha Stewart.
Involve the kiddos if they are around. Let them cut up the cards for you, and they can practice their penmanship while copying out the list of ingredients you give them.
Permanent Markers
These are your friend! You can decorate the bottle as you wish – and the marker wipes off with alcohol later (Our “hack” removing permanent marker) So that said – be sure to get a paper label on your bottles of alcohol.
Make Your Life Easy
The whole point of this post is for you to take a few moments and realize the bounty that surrounds you – and give share some of that bounty. The whole idea of the holidays is to share the light that is in you with the ones that you love. If you are tires, and stressed, and cranky about gift giving, it will be hard to shine.
Gifts from the Garden
Want to make some simple and simply wonderful gifts from your garden for the holidays? You can, of course, make any of these above – but you could also head over to my Gardening With Soule classes site! You could learn to make some Luscious Lotion. It is easy as can be! Just a few ingredients from most supermarkets, one from the hardware store – and the tools you already have, a spoon, a kitchen blender, a stove, and a pot.
Thanks for reading,
The Savorists
Legal Notes
© Article copyright Savor the Southwest // Jacqueline A. Soule. All rights reserved. You must ask permission to republish an entire blog post or article. Okay to use a short excerpt but you must give proper credit. You must include a link back to the original post on our site. No stealing photos.
Disclaimer
The authors of this website have researched the edibility of the materials we discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The authors on this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.
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